US 'begins drawing up targets in response to Benghazi attack'

America has begun drawing up potential targets in Libya ahead of a possible
retaliatory strike with drones or special forces following the attack on the
American consulate in Benghazi, it was claimed.

The Libyan government seems to have reached an agreement with the FBI that would allow American investigators to visit the site of the attackPhoto: Esam Al-Fetori/REUTERS

By Raf Sanchez, Washington

8:03PM BST 02 Oct 2012

The US military's secret Joint Special Operations Command has reportedly begun preparing "target packages" – lists of suspected militants to present to the White House – in response to the September 11 attack, which killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

The claim comes as the US State Department was accused by Republicans in Congress of turning down repeated security requests from US diplomats in Libya who believed the lightly-guarded site was a vulnerable target.

While the US has deployed extra marines to embassies across the region it has not yet responded militarily to the killings in Benghazi.

The New York Times reported that the Pentagon and CIA are in the process of gathering targeting information on members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb – the north African branch of the jihadist network – and on Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamist militant group known to operate in Benghazi.

US intelligence had previously intercepted conversations where Ansar al-Sharia fighters are heard boasting to al-Qaeda members about their role in the attack.

The lists of potential targets would be presented to the White House before a final decision to strike is made by President Barack Obama.

While a successful operation would boost Mr Obama's credibility on national security issues his advisers will also weigh the risk that a failed raid – especially one involving American casualties – could make the administration appear impotent in its response.

The Libyan government meanwhile said that it had reached an agreement with the FBI that would allow American investigators to visit the site of the attack.

Republicans yesterday wrote to Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, demanding details of any requests for more security from diplomats in Libya.

"Multiple US federal government officials have confirmed to the committee that, prior to the September 11 attack, the US mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi," Congressmen Darrell Issa and Jason Chaffetz, the Republican leaders of a powerful oversight committee, said. "The mission in Libya, however, was denied these resources by officials in Washington."

A spokesman for Mrs Clinton said she was preparing a formal response to the letter and was willing to co-operate "closely" with Congress as it investigates the attack.

Mr Issa has scheduled a committee hearing on October 10 where he is expected to provide more details of the allegations.

Other Republicans have demanded that Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, resign after she initially said that the consulate attack had been a spontaneous event that originated out of a peaceful protest against an anti-Islamic film made in California.

The administration later admitted that the assault appeared to be the work of well-coordinated militants.